Chapter 15: The Week Without

The week without Nadia was awful.

Dominic realized this on day two.

Accepted it on day three.

Stopped denying it on day four.

The rink felt different.

Quieter.

Empty.

Training continued.

Technically.

But something important was missing.

On Wednesday, Nadia sent him a video.

She was sitting on her couch.

Ankle elevated.

Looking annoyed.

"I hate resting," she announced.

"I know."

"How?"

"I've met you."

She rolled her eyes.

"I miss the ice."

"I know."

"You keep saying that."

"Because I do."

The conversation ended.

But Dominic replayed the video later that night.

Then again.

Then once more.

Which was completely normal behavior.

Probably.

Meanwhile, Nadia wasn't doing much better.

By Friday she was pacing around her apartment.

Restless.

Frustrated.

Missing training.

Missing competition preparation.

Missing Dominic.

That final realization stopped her cold.

She sat on the couch.

Staring at the wall.

"Oh," she said softly.

The truth had finally caught up with her.

And it was impossible to pretend otherwise now.

She missed him.

Not the partnership.

Not the training.

Him.

When she returned to the rink next week, everything would be different.

Because now she knew.

And sooner or later...

Dominic would know too.